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Synonym Chooser

How is the word sly distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sly are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

Where would artful be a reasonable alternative to sly?

The words artful and sly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When could crafty be used to replace sly?

While in some cases nearly identical to sly, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

In what contexts can cunning take the place of sly?

While the synonyms cunning and sly are close in meaning, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When is it sensible to use foxy instead of sly?

The synonyms foxy and sly are sometimes interchangeable, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is slick a more appropriate choice than sly?

In some situations, the words slick and sly are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When might tricky be a better fit than sly?

Although the words tricky and sly have much in common, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When would wily be a good substitute for sly?

The meanings of wily and sly largely overlap; however, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sly Kennedy Tolson is the sly queen of side-eye as the disobedient new housemaid Nancy. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025 Champagne Poppy, by contrast, is a lighter poppy seed cookie that features sly citrus notes. Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Aug. 2025 With acute insight and sly humor, Fumio Yamamoto depicts the lives of modern Japanese women in all their complexity. Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025 Goldie loved the even more subtle cryptotephra, the sly tephra fallout from many thousands of years ago, doubly elusive when hidden under layers of sediment, as in the bogs, lake beds, or ponds that filled extinct volcanic craters. Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sly
Adjective
  • Bening will costar on the series as Beulah Jackson, who's described as the powerful, cunning, and charming head of a major ranch in Texas.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Joan Silber is a contemporary genius at creating artful stories of a multitude of characters who ricochet in cunning ways, crossing generations and continents.
    Jane Ciabattari September 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Maybe not something drastic like a world war, slavery or the Holocaust, but there’s always shady s–t going on.
    Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Meursault also starts hanging out with his shady and brutish French neighbor, Raymond (Pierre Lottin), whose abusive relationship with an Algerian girl (Hajar Bouzaouit) eventually leads to the murder.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Late Thursday, the company released in China the newest Labubu dolls, rabbit-ish toys that have pointed ears, jagged teeth and a mischievous grin.
    Yue Wang, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Many brushed aside the cheeky clip as mischievous teasing between teammates at the time.
    Doha Madani, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Ofeefan Long-Sleeve A-Line Ribbed-Knit Mini Dress This mini sweater dress would look cute with a cropped leather jacket and coordinating knee-high boots.
    Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Ouligay Period Bag My teen and her friends always make sure to keep their period stashes organized in one cute pouch like this black one.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This meant that select watch faces, like Reflections, could update every second even in standby, meaning a sneaky glance down at your wrist during a dull meeting could tell you the time with to-the-second precision.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • If the Falcons can’t stop Baker Mayfield and play aggressively to keep pace, Penix could be sneaky.
    Jake Ciely, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Both are wicked smart brainiacs on a tireless quest to do good in the world.
    Natasha Stoynoff, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • As the mystery unravels from multiple POVs, Alex’s kooky aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan) is revealed as the orchestrator of the tragedy — her fiery orange hair, nimble fingers, ghostly face and wicked crimson smile a memorable image that haunts the narrative.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This planet is electric, unpredictable and genius with its approach, but its transits are anything but subtle.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Even subtle light or noise can disrupt sleep cycles, preventing you from reaching the deeper, most restorative stages of sleep necessary for physical and mental recovery.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Nobody talked about the furtive ambition of the swots.
    Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
  • But the party is practically dripping with the unsaid, rife with tiny, furtive glances and pregnant pauses.
    EW.com, EW.com, 31 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sly. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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